Automatically controlled ignition switch



April 19, 1949. E. A. WERNER AUTOMATICALLY CONTROLLED IGNITION SWITCH Filed Nov. 4, 1946 2 LN 6 M 2 I 4 III Mn MIL?U G F f H mwwv lli v INVENTOR.

EDWARD A. WERNER ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 19, 194-9 AUTOMATICALLY CONTROLLED IGNITION SWITCH Edward A. Werner, St. Clair, Mich., assignor of one-fourth to Charles H. Swaffield, Port Huron,

Mich.

Application November 4, 1946, Serial No. 7 07,691

3 Claims. 1

The invention relates to switches for controlling the ignition circuits of internal combustion engines and it is the primary object of the invention to obtain a construction in which the closed switch will automatically open under certain conditions. More particularly, it is an object to provide a switch which whenever closed will automatically open, first, after a brief interval should the engine fail to start and, second, where there is loss of pressure in the lubricating system which would render the continued operation of the engine detrimental. With these objects in view the invention consists in the construction as hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a portion of the switch mechanism;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal central section through the switch;

Fig. 3 is a section on line 3-3, Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to a portion of Fig. 2 illustrating the means for opening the switch whenever the engine is not running.

My improved switch and the circuits controlled thereby are only diagrammatically illustrated in the drawings but with suiiicient detail to show the novel features of the mechanism. As shown in Fig. 1, A is a normally locked rotatably movable member controlled by the ignition key B and actuated thereby into circuit closing position. A spiral spring C arranged within a chamber in the member A is biased to move said member towards the open position of the switch. There is, however, a detent D for engaging a shoulder A on the member A to hold said member against movement by the spring. The member A has mounted thereon a pair of electrical contacts E and E which when said member is rotated by the key B will be brought into connection with cooperating contacts F and F mounted on an insulator member in rear of the member A. There is also a bridge contact member H which is actuated by the key B slightly in advance of the rotation of the member A to engage and bridge across the contacts E and E". The contacts F and F are connected into the ignition circuit I so that whenever said contacts are in engagement with each other, the ignition circuit will be closed.

The automatic opening of the switch is effected by a withdrawal of the detent D from engagethermostatic bar extending from the detent D to 1 ZOO-81.5)

a bracket G on the member G. K is an electrical resistor surrounding the bar J or in proximity thereto. One terminal J of this resistor is connected with the contact F, while the other terminal J leads to a ground J L is a normally closed switch connected into the terminal J so that the initial closing of the ignition circuit by the rotation of the member A will also close the circuit through the resistor K. This will heat the lei-metal bar J to cause the warping of the same and after a brief interval will move the detent D out of engagement with the shoulder A. However, such operation will not take place if the switch L is opened which is normally effected when the engine is started by the following construction.

M is a chamber having a flexible diaphragm M forming one side thereof which diaphragm carries a pin M extending into proximity to a contact L of the switch L. The chamber M is connected by a conduit N with the lubricating system of the engine and the arrangement is such that whenever the engine is started the pressure on the lubricant within the chamber M will flex the diaphragm M and cause the pin M to separate the contact L from the cooperating contact L which latter has an insulated mounting on the member G, thereby opening the switch L. This will out 01f current from the resistor K and prevent the warping of the bi-metal bar J. Thus, the detent G in engagement with the shoulder A will hold the member A against return movement by the spring C.

Operation From the description above given the operation of the switch will be understood but briefly it is as follows. By means of the key B the members A and H are unlocked and slightly rotated, the member H moving, first, to bridge between the contacts E and E after which said contacts are moved respectively into connection with the contacts F and F. The ignition circuit I is thus established and if the engine is immediately started, it will continue to operate until the switch is again open by operation of the key B. This is for the reason that pressure on the lubricating system will be developed which will actuate the diaphragm M to open the switch L. On the other hand, if after closing the ignition circuit the engine fails to start, the switch L will remain closed and the current passin through the resistor K will cause the warping of the bar J and disengagement of the detent D permitting the spring C to return the member A. If, for any reaso that the heat generated by the resistor K will warp the thermostatic bar J disengaging the detent D. This will also occur if at any time the engineis stalled so that the ignition switch will never be left in closed position when the engine is idle.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In an ignition switch for internal combustion engines, a manually operable member for closing the switch biased towards switch open position,a detent for holding said member in closed position, a delayed action detent releasing means, an electric circuit established by the closing of said switch for operatin said delayed action releasing means, and hydraulic means for opening said circuit adapted for connection with the engine lubricating system to be operated by the pressure thereof when the engine is running. an ignitionswitch for internal combustion engines, a manually operable member for closing'said switch biased towards switch open position, a detent for holding said member in closed position, thermostatic means for releasing said detent upon a predetermined rise in temperature, electric heating means for said thermostatic means, an-electric circuit established by the closing of said switch for operating said heating means, and hydraulic means for opening said electric circuit adapted for connection with the engine lubricating system to be operated by the pressure thereof when the engine is running.

3. In an ignition switch for internal combustion engines, a manually operable member for closing the switch biased towards switch open position, a detent for holding said member in closed position, a bi-metal thermostatic bar connected to said detent and adapted to release the same upon a predetermined rise in temperature, an electric circuit established by the closing of said switch, a resistor in said circuit adjacent to said bi-metal bar to heat the same, a normally closed switch in said circuit, and hydraulic means for opening said normally closed switch adapted for connection with the engine lubricating system to be operated by the pressure thereof when the engine is runnmg.

EDWARD A. WERNER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,821,853 Short Sept. 1, 1931 1,944,084 Hutt Jan. 16, 1934 

